Model year record

2021 Toyota RAV4

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 753 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 23V865000

Air bags: sensor: occupant classification

Component: Air bags: sensor: occupant classification
Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Vehicles affected: 999,901
Reported to NHTSA: 2023-12-20
Owners notified: 2024-10-31

Defect description

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.

Safety risk

An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Air bags	196	30,000 mi
Unknown or other	97	502 mi
Electrical system	67	30,000 mi
Engine	61	60,000 mi
Power train	36	2,935 mi
Seats	34	—
Steering	28	1,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	26	502 mi
Service brakes	24	15,900 mi
Visibility/wiper	21	2,241 mi
Structure: body	19	70 mi
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking	11	—
Seat belts	11	34,777 mi
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control	10	—
Lane departure: assist	9	1,000 mi
Exterior lighting	8	—
Suspension	8	1 mi
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior	8	—
Forward collision avoidance: warnings	7	—
Vehicle speed control	7	60,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: electronic lock/latch actuator	6	—
Structure: body: door	6	70,000 mi
Wheels	6	1,500 mi
Tires	5	18,800 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly	4	50,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	3	46,252 mi
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments	3	44,000 mi
Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems	3	—
Lane departure: warning	2	2,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages	2	108,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: lock	2	—
Steering: steering wheel /handle bar: yaw/angle sensor	2	27,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system	2	—
Visibility: power window devices and controls	2	32,804 mi
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices	2	—
Back over prevention: rearview system braking	1	—
Back over prevention: warnings	1	—
Electrical system: adas: autonomous/self driving	1	—
Fuel system, gasoline: storage	1	—
Lane departure: blind spot detection	1	8 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch	1	—
Latches/locks/linkages: hatchback/liftgate: lock	1	4,055 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift	1	—
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly	1	58,000 mi
Steering: electric power assist system	1	7,500 mi
Steering: steering control module	1	7,500 mi
Structure	1	23,000 mi
Traction control system	1	810 mi
Tether, lower anchor (on car seat or vehicle)	1	—
Visibility	1	53,000 mi

The 2020 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 2022 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.